Americans United - Christian Defense Coalitionhttp://www.au.org/tags/christian-defense-coalition
enOf Courthouses And Creches: The Crucial Difference Between Public And Private Religious Symbols http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/of-courthouses-and-creches-the-crucial-difference-between-public-and
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Private groups should pay for, erect and maintain religious symbols.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>One of the Religious Right’s favorite tricks is to do something that pretty much everyone agrees is legal, and then thumb their noses at groups like Americans United when nobody gets in trouble for doing it.</p><p>Here’s a recent example: Earlier this week, two groups called Faith in Action and the Christian Defense Coalition brought a living Nativity scene to the sidewalk in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Revs. Rob Schenck and Patrick Mahoney had a camel, a donkey and people posing as Mary, Joseph and the three wise men. (For added realism, Mary was even carrying a four-month-old baby, not a doll.)</p><p>Mahoney asserted that people like these kinds of displays but <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/live-nativity-scene-to-be-displayed-at-supreme-court-capitol-building-63451/">added</a> “[T]he courts and groups like the ACLU and Americans United are mounting an all-out assault on public expressions of faith. So in America, you have this very fascinating situation. The general public is very warm toward public expressions of faith, while the courts and elite groups are very uncomfortable with it.”</p><p>Only that’s not what the courts have said, and it’s not what Americans United believes. The sidewalk in front of the Supreme Court is well known as a free-speech zone. Every time I go to the high court I see people there marching around with signs, expressing their point of view.</p><p>This includes religious perspectives, because many of the folks who protest there don’t like legal abortion and often hoist signs containing Bible verses. Some even get down on their knees and pray in front of the court.</p><p>Americans United does not object to that. What we oppose is the government deciding to adopt a religious point of view and holding that up as the standard for everyone. When the mayor of Anytown puts a Nativity scene up on the town green at taxpayer expense, she is sending the message that Anytown has a preferred religion and here is its symbol. We oppose that. Under the First Amendment, Anytown isn’t allowed to have a preferred religion.</p><p>When the Knights of Columbus gets a permit and puts a Nativity scene on the town green that its members paid for and they maintain, there is no problem – as long as every other group in town is given the same right. So a Jewish group can erect a menorah, the atheists can put up a banner supporting reason and the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s adherents can erect a rendering of His Noodlyness. (Don’t laugh. This is exactly what’s<a href="http://www.leesburg2day.com/news/article_a0ebc97a-1212-11e1-9118-001cc4c002e0.html"> going on</a> in Leesburg, Va.)</p><p>A CNN <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/30/nativity-project-leaders-hope-supreme-court-trek-resonates/">report</a> on the display noted that Schenck and Mahoney hope other people follow their example. The story reported that tax-funded religious symbols are problematic and added, “The way around it, say the pastors, is to get a permit and have the funds for the scenes come from private donors.”</p><p>Well, duh! That’s what Americans United has been saying for something like 30 years now. I’m glad Schenck and Mahoney have finally caught on.</p><p>Look, this isn’t rocket science: Private groups should pay for, erect and maintain religious symbols. If they want to put them on public space, they should get the proper permits. They should respect the right of other groups to do the same. Government should stay out of the theology business and refrain from displaying any sectarian symbols at taxpayer expense.</p><p>So, to the Revs. Schenck and Mahoney I can only say: Good luck with your privately funded living Nativity scene that isn’t government supported. That’s my favorite kind. (Just be sure to clean up after that camel.)</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/government-sponsored-religious-displays">Government-Sponsored Religious Displays</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rob-schenck">Rob Schenck</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/patrick-mahoney">Patrick Mahoney</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/faith-in-action">Faith in Action</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/christian-defense-coalition">Christian Defense Coalition</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/nativity-scene">Nativity scene</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/christmas">Christmas</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/supreme-court">Supreme Court</a></span></div></div>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:07:53 +0000Rob Boston6433 at http://www.au.orghttp://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/of-courthouses-and-creches-the-crucial-difference-between-public-and#commentsMemo To The Religious Right: On Sept. 11, 2011, Americans Can Pray – Even Without Government Directionhttp://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/memo-to-the-religious-right-on-sept-11-2011-americans-can-pray-%E2%80%93-even
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Americans are quite capable of engaging in religious activity without government direction. </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>The 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is fast approaching, giving the Religious Right just a few more days to rant and rave about the lack of official prayers at the commemoration sponsored by New York City.</p>
<p>As I <a href="http://blog.au.org/2011/08/30/concocted-controversy-religious-right-complaints-about-911-commemoration-ring-hollow/">noted recently</a>, several Religious Right organizations have joined forces to promote a phony controversy over New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decision to put the focus of the day on the families of those who lost their lives during the attacks. Family members will read remembrances, some of which will undoubtedly be spiritual in nature, but there will be no official prayers during the ceremony.</p>
<p>The Religious Right’s outrage machine in working overtime, pumping out various petitions, letters and emails blasting Bloomberg for his alleged hostility toward religion. These groups are shamelessly exploiting the memory of this tragic event to raise money and keep the media spotlight on themselves. It’s appalling.</p>
<p>One outfit has decided to take things even further. The Christian Defense Coalition has issued a <a href="http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/249417694.html">press release</a> fulminating that it plans to sponsor a private prayer service Sept. 10 at the Ground Zero site and vowing to file a federal lawsuit if anyone tries to stop them.</p>
<p>The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said in a press release, “During our prayer time at Ground Zero, we will seek God for His continued protection, pray for those who lost loved ones, pray for our leaders and elected officials and turn to God in repentance recognizing only He can bring healing and restoration to our nation.”</p>
<p>Mahoney sent information about his event to the New York City Police Department. My guess is that he’s hoping (praying, actually) that some misguided cop will try to interfere, or, alternatively, he and his supporters will engage in some sort of questionable activity at the site to draw the attention of the authorities. Once the police show up, Mahoney and crew can manufacture yet another Religious Right urban legend about how the government tried to shut down their prayer service.</p>
<p>Don’t think I’m being paranoid. Mahoney and his associates have long been active in the extreme fringe of the anti-abortion movement and love to engineer media stunts. In July of 1992, Mahoney pal the Rev. Rob Schenck (who is taking part in the Ground Zero prayer event) and two others thrust a dead fetus at Bill Clinton in New York City. Four years later, Schenck yelled at Clinton, “God will hold you to account, Mr. President,” as Clinton was walking to receive communion at Washington National Cathedral.</p>
<p>To Mahoney, Schenck and their cronies I can only say: Grow up. This isn’t about you. The 9/11 commemoration is an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on that tragic event in whatever way is meaningful for them. Undoubtedly, millions will pray that day. They will do it even if there’s no official prayer during the ceremony.</p>
<p>Americans are quite capable of engaging in religious activity without government direction. As Don Byrd of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty <a href="http://www.bjconline.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=4612&amp;Itemid=134">put it recently</a>, “While a non-sectarian prayer delivered at the event would surely be constitutionally acceptable and appropriate for the event, it is by no means <strong>required</strong>. Conservative activists who suddenly this year are excited by this decision are mistaken in suggesting it represents some betrayal of duty. Staying away from official prayer – I’m sure there will still be a moment of silence for reflection and prayer by anyone who wishes to pray – avoids all the problems such prayer brings: who will speak? which religious perspectives will be represented? if a distinctly denominational prayer is offered, why wouldn't followers of other faiths be offended? After all, adherents of many, many faiths were killed on September 11. Is the proper national response necessarily Christian? Why would that be?”</p>
<p>The various commemorations that are taking place this weekend are a time for national unity. Religious Right groups insist on using them to divide us – and as vehicles to get their names in the media.</p>
<p>They are beneath contempt. I hope their pathetic stunts fall flat.</p>
<p> </p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/prayer-at-government-events-and-legislative-meetings">Prayer at Government Events and Legislative Meetings</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/baptist-joint-committee-religious-liberty">Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/christian-defense-coalition">Christian Defense Coalition</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/don-byrd">Don Byrd</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/patrick-mahoney">Patrick Mahoney</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rob-schenck">Rob Schenck</a></span></div></div>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:03:28 +0000Rob Boston5774 at http://www.au.orghttp://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/memo-to-the-religious-right-on-sept-11-2011-americans-can-pray-%E2%80%93-even#commentsFlyover Flap: Air Force Drops Participation In Idaho Religious Festivalhttp://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/flyover-flap-air-force-drops-participation-in-idaho-religious-festival
<a href="/about/people/bathija">Sandhya Bathija</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>The Department of Defense has ended a decades-old tradition of lending support to a fundamentalist Christian festival in Idaho.</p>
<p>The Pentagon nixed a request for military flyovers during the "Treasure Valley God and Country Festival" held annually in Nampa. (Yes, this is the same city that wanted to <a href="http://blog.au.org/2008/06/11/no-joy-in-idaho-nampa-library-board-pulls-sex-ed-books-from-shelves/">pull sex education books</a> from its public library shelves last year)</p>
<p>According to sponsors, the Pentagon has allowed these flyovers at the <a href="http://godandcountryfestival.com/">festival </a>since it began in 1967 to "promote our country's founding ideals and faith in God."</p>
<p>The religious nature of the event is apparent. In fact, the rally's director, Patti Syme, told the <em><a href="http://www.idahopress.com/news/?2009-07-03-Pentagon-nixes-flyover">Idaho Press-Tribune</a></em> that the event is "as Christian as you can get – we believe in promoting Christianity."</p>
<p>In denying the flyover request, government officials <a href="http://www.earnedmedia.org/God_and_Country_flyover.pdf">said</a>:</p>
<p>"Air Force and DoD policy prohibit support for events which appear to endorse, selectively benefit, or favor any special interest group, religious or ideological movement.... We are not questioning the worthiness of the event, but rather enforcing DoD and Air Force policy to preserve the operational and training requirements of our aviation units and to practice the prudent stewardship of taxpayer-financed resources."</p>
<p>The decision follows an <a href="http://blog.au.org/2007/05/25/no-highflying-evangelism-air-force-and-army-back-away-from-christian-event/">earlier move</a> by officials to stop military involvement with a similar evangelical Christian event in Stone Mountain Park, Ga., which Americans United protested in 2007.</p>
<p>Back then, AU's legal department wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Acting Secretary of the Army, arguing that the military's co-sponsorship and planned participation in the Georgia rally violated church-state separation.</p>
<p>At that event, promotional materials for what they called a "Salute to the Troops" celebration promised hourly flyovers by Air Force B-2 Bombers and parachuting demonstrations by the Army's Silver Wings Parachute Jump Team. All this excitement was mixed in with Bible distributions, worship services, personal religious "testimony" by a uniformed B-2 pilot and revival-type sermons given by dozens of ministers.</p>
<p>Fortunately, after AU made a stink, officials took steps to put distance between the Air Force and the event, including denying the flyover request.</p>
<p>We were happy to see our work paid off in Georgia. And now, it's even better to know it may have helped make an important change across the board.</p>
<p>Of course, this is not sitting well with <a href="http://www.earnedmedia.org/God_and_Country_flyover.pdf">Religious Right activists</a>.</p>
<p>"For the Obama administration to deny a flyover for the first time is a slap in the face to all those who proudly serve our country, especially when we are at war," said Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, head of the Christian Defense Coalition.</p>
<p>"Will the new policy of President Obama be that a person has to surrender their faith tradition to honor and pay tribute to our courageous men and women who serve in the military?" Mahoney <a href="http://www.earnedmedia.org/cdc0703.htm">asked</a>.</p>
<p>The answer is no, of course.</p>
<p>Events like the "God and Country Festival" can still honor our armed forces, but they just have to do it without the government's endorsement and support.</p>
<p>Mahoney and other Religious Right leaders should not be able to seek the help of the military to further push "Christian nation" propaganda, as it does with these events. Hopefully, that strategy ends here.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/churches-and-politics">Churches and Politics</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/christian-defense-coalition">Christian Defense Coalition</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/christian-festival">Christian festival</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/department-defense">Department of Defense</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/flyover">Flyover</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/governement-endorsed-religion">Governement-endorsed religion</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/idaho">Idaho</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/military">Military</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/nampa">Nampa</a></span></div></div>Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:54:40 +0000Sandhya Bathija2366 at http://www.au.orghttp://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/flyover-flap-air-force-drops-participation-in-idaho-religious-festival#comments